After spending over a year in lockdown, travel lovers can enjoy a trip that is unique, unforgettable, and enriching. Safari holidays are an excellent way of taking a break and connecting with nature, enjoying breathtaking views, and spotting stunning flora and fauna. FlightLink presents a wonderful guide that can help you plan and enjoy an extraordinary safari holiday in 2021 and 2022.
- Best Safari Parks
East Africa is home to some of the most amazing game reserves and national parks in the world. Tourists can explore vast grasslands, savannahs, gorges, and hills, as they spot spectacular wildlife and meet the friendly locals. In Tanzania, famous parks include the vast Serengeti that is famous for the Great Migration of two million wildebeests, Saadani National Park that is located on a beach, and Tarangire National Park that is known for its huge elephant population. Travellers can also visit parks such as Ruaha, Gombe, Mahale Mountains, and Arusha National Park, which offer extraordinary sights of natural beauty.
In Kenya, travellers can visit the Maasai Mara which offers scenic views and is home to the indigenous Maasai people, Amboselli National Park which is near the glorious Mount Kilimanjaro, and Lake Nakuru National Park, located next to the wonderful lake, and surrounded by lush greenery. They can also go to Samburu Game Reserve, where they can enjoy an extraordinary camel safari, and spot the unique animals of the region, called the ‘Special Five’, which are the Beisa Oryx, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Somali ostrich, and reticulated giraffe.
- Types of Safaris
There are many different ways in which you can enjoy a safari holiday.
- Hot air balloon Safari
A bird’s eye view of a national park provides a unique safari experience, where tourists can spot wildlife from up in the air, and enjoy aerial views of the vivid greenery. These can be enjoyed at the Serengeti and Tarangire National Park in Tanzania, and the Maasai Mara in Kenya.
- Walking tours
Most safari parks can be explored on foot. These tours can be tiring, so tourists must wear comfortable walking shoes and carry water bottles. Although they can not cover a large area, walking tours offer an interesting experience as visitors can closely observe the flora and fauna of the region. They can take memorable photographs and explore the area in an exciting way.
- Game Drives
Game drives are a wonderful way of exploring a region, as tourists are safe in the car and can cover a large area without getting tired. They are accompanied by expert guides who can help them make the most out of their trip.
- Cycling Tours
In parks such as Arusha, tourists can explore the area on a rented bike. This is an exciting experience, as they stay active, and have fun while they travel across the park. This is an eco-friendly way of enjoying an amazing safari tour!
- Wildlife and birdlife
Safari trips can allow tourists to spot amazing creatures, such as giraffes, lions, zebras, wild dogs, leopards, cheetahs, gazelles, reedbucks, waterbucks, hyenas, antelopes, wildebeests, buffaloes, rhinos, impalas, elands, baboons, jackals, crocodiles, elephants, warthogs, oryxes, dik-diks, galagos, servals, aardvarks, foxes, kudus, and genets. Visitors can also find exotic and migratory birds including herons, storks, flamingos, hornbills, woodpeckers, kingfishers, cranes, bee-eaters, eagles, guineafowl, vultures, spurfowl, coucals, cuckoos, owls, and pigeons. Wildlife viewing and birdwatching is excellent in East Africa.
- Packing list
Some items are essential for a safari trip, and must be carried by tourists. These include important documents such as passports, travel documentation, and IDs, self care items such as toiletries, necessary medication, and sunscreen, and clothing items that include comfortable walking shoes, lightweight fabrics, clothes with pockets, an extra layer (e.g. a fleece, jacket, or scarf), and a hat. As it is important to take precautions against coronavirus, tourists should also take gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and wet wipes to clean surfaces before and after touching them. It is also a good idea to carry a camera and spare batteries.
- Where to stay
During the safari trip, tourists can stay at comfortable lodges and retreats. In parks such as Maasai Mara, Nakuru, and Ngorongoro Crater, tourists can go to camps and have an adventurous camping experience. They can also opt for glamping, a unique experience that combines luxury with fun. At the Serengeti, Lake Manyara National Park, and Tarangire National Park, they can stay at comfortable and luxurious lodges that offer the perfect camping experience. Some great places to stay are the Mara Serena Safari Lodge in Maasai Mara, Kibo Safari Camp in Amboselli, Zawadi Serengeti Camp, Greystroke Mahale at Mahale Mountains, and Four Seasons Safari Lodge in Tarangire National Park.
We hope this guide can help you achieve the perfect safari holiday in 2021-22.